I am Not Sure Why Yet

 Let's start off with Monday. We started doing all of our chores and then a member agreed to cut our hair at her salon. Her name is Sister Idalski, she is the wife of one of the members in the bishop brick (that was for you Weston). After she gave us a nice cut, she was nice enough to give us 65$ to pay for our whole district for lunch. We all pounded some Rally's which made me feel nasty lol. We played some board games at the church then we had service at 5:30. We helped an elderly lady move and it took three hours. My job was to organize all her boxes into her new house. I nailed that job to a tea #bestorganizer

Tuesday was President Heap interviews. They were fire!!! I love interviews because President Heap is the nicest person ever to talk to. While you are waiting in between interviews you talk to Sister Heap and she is a queen. Our mission leaders beat out everyone else's. After the interviews we decided to go eat some Texas Roadhouse. It was so good. I needed some fresh rolls and cinnamon butter. Made me a little sad because I only really ate there with you guys. Anyway it was a great day in Bay City. I am writing this on Tuesday night and from the interview I had with President, I am staying in Bay City and I am receiving an obedient missionary to greenie bust me.

Wednesday was an exciting one. We were packed with member lessons and our Facebook work is finally paying off. It seems like everyone we message now wants to do a video call. It's awesome. You get the gospel, you get the gospel, you get the gospel. We picked up two new friends through Facebook AND dropped off copies of the Book of Mormon at their homes. Such a reward feeling and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints just makes sense. We are built different. 

Thursday was a moving day. The office elders who reside in Lansing drove up to help us move. The main reason they came was to pick up Elder Reynolds because he is going to be the next housing coordinator. Usually the office elders and APs go in about 5 days early to get trained before they are left on their own. The office elders helped us move for an hour and then it was just Elder Eccles, Elliott, and I. We moved for about 5 hours. All we had to do was move one floor down, but man missionaries have a lot of crap. We are now living in such a LAVISH apartment. It is all hardwood floor… which will suck in the winter. Anyways, there are actually corners in the kitchen with a brand new fridge, stove, and dishwasher. I am about to make this place our new home. Even though we are living in the same apartment building, our apartment is like 20 times better now. 

I don't think I have mentioned this, but every Thursday for dinner we get a Gulino's pizza. They are kind enough to give us two XL pizzas of our choosing every Thursday. The gulinos are a family in our ward and we actually got a photo with them this week. We bought some of their long sleeve shirts we have as a souvenir. I look good in a long sleeve red shirt. I can tell you that.

The reason I have so many photos with members is because it was Elder Elliotts last week here so i tagged along in all the photos so i have some. Be prepared when you go into Google photos.

Ten whole families in the Bay City ward have COVID. They decided to cancel church for the next two weeks...We are in charge of doing our own sacrament for us and the sisters. We can never get away from quarantine. It kind of sucks for the other elders who are leaving and now don't get to say goodbye to everyone. When Sunday rolled around we met at the church building at 10 am. We were supposed to watch the Midland Sacrament meeting (another ward in the state) via zoom. Turns out that was from 9-10. We missed it lol. We decided to do Sacrament and Sister Evans offered that We should watch an episode of The Chosen. We watched episode 1 of season 2, maybe I'll end up finishing it before I get home. 

We got our transfer calls on Saturday afternoon. The Lord loves to give Elder Clouse trials. I am receiving a companion named Elder Johnson. I am not going to lie to you guys. This next transfer is going to be hard. I will need all the help I can get through prayers. I just know I have been placed here with Elder Johnson for a reason I am not sure why yet.. Elder Elliott is going up north to be a Zone Leader in Traverse City. 

On Saturday we went to a wedding ceremony and reception for a couple in our ward. Daniel and Morgan Bond. It was a fun wedding and reception. We met some people that weren't members and just chatted with them. We met a college student named Logan, and we instantly became friends with him. We even took a photo with him. Elder Elliott and I took some fire photo booth photos. Since they are printed out it's hard to get a good photo of them.

Since we are now living in an all hardwood floor apartment we cant vacuum. When Sunday cleaning rolled around I swept the whole place and then mopped it. Mom would've been so proud, had to get on my hands and knees to do it all, I don't know how mom does it. I used the new cleaning supplies she gave me in my last package I received. Floor is spotless and we are in a fresh new apartment. I also decided to make the apartment feel like home. I made a Jesus Chirst/Joseph Smith shrine, maybe someday you will see it. Today we are also printing out photos of Elder Elliott and I around the apartment to have a memory wall ;(.

Quote of the week

"I know this church is true… I'm not sure If that's my testimony"

This quote was said by Patrick Trombley. Patrick was the recent convert we baptized and confirmed at the beginning of this transfer. I am so lucky I got to begin my mission with him. He was actually the first lesson I ever taught. During the lesson he stopped us and said, "I know this church is true… I'm not sure If that's my testimony." We reassured Patrick that it was. It was such a powerful moment, I could've gone into tears on how happy I felt in that moment. He was a member of his pentecostal church for 30 years. To see him flip around in 8 months to know for a surety this is Jesus Christ's church is amazing. I am so glad I will stay here for another transfer at least to continue to meet with him. 

It was such a long week. A ton of stuff happened and I am wiped. Elder Elliott and I decided to end this week with pazookies. Chocolate chip cookies with Salted Caramel Graze ice cream. I have probably eaten about 2 gallons of that ice cream since being here in Bay City. It is my new favorite. 

This past week I have been trying to finish the book The Power of Everyday Missionary. I had to finish it this week because Elder Elliott is leaving and it's his book. It's a book by Clayton M. Christensen and it is amazing. It's about 150 pages and it has changed my outlook on being a member. If you all find time, order it and read it, Elder Christensen is a member of the 70 and he is a king. I can't say much more about it then read it haha. 

You thought I forgot. HAPPY 49TH BIRTHDAY DAD! I love you so much and am so grateful for how you and mom raised me. Without you guys I wouldn't be where I am now in Bay City! The more I progress on my mission, the more I see how grateful I am to have such loving parents who are both active members of his church. I want to thank you dad for all you constantly do for our family (and you mom, it's dad's birthday so he gets the spotlight). If you are reading this you should all text dad or Doug (@brooki) and say one thing you love about him. I will ask dad when I call him tonight if anyone did it. Keeping you all accountable.